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Key Takeaways
- The left-brain, right-brain theory is a myth, as both sides of the brain work together for most activities.
- Regular exercise and mental activities can improve your brain health.
- A healthy diet and enough sleep are vital for brain function and health.
The left brain vs. right brain theory suggests that people with a strong left hemisphere are logical and language-oriented, while those with a strong right hemisphere are creative and emotionally oriented. While some brain regions are involved in certain tasks, there is no evidence that one side of the brain is more dominant than the other, and tasks engage the whole brain, not just one side.
Michela Buttignol for Verywell Mind
What Is the Left Brain vs. Right Brain Myth?
Have you ever heard people say that they are more of a left-brained vs. a right-brained thinker? From books to TV shows, you’ve probably heard the phrase mentioned numerous times. Or perhaps you’ve even taken an online test to determine whether you are right-brained or left-brained.
According to the theory of left brain vs. right brain dominance, each side of the brain controls different types of thinking. Additionally, people are said to prefer one type of thinking over the other.
For example:
- A person who is “left-brained” is often said to be more logical, analytical, and objective.
- A person who is “right-brained” is said to be more intuitive, thoughtful, and subjective.
Given the popularity of the idea of “left-brained” and “right-brained” thinkers, it might surprise you to learn that this idea is just one of many myths about the brain.
Like most things in life, it’s not all or nothing, or this or that. We have to remember that regardless of which side of the brain is more dominant for us, both sides are involved.
The idea that people have a “dominant” side of the brain is a persistent myth. It’s why artists are often described as right-brained while mathematicians are labeled left-brained.
In reality, both hemispheres of the brain are active during nearly all tasks, whether they involve creative or analytical thinking. While some functions are more strongly associated with one side. For example, language is typically processed more in the left hemisphere. However, that doesn’t translate into a single thinking style or personality type determined by one side of the brain.
Claimed Left and Right Brain Traits
People described as left-brain thinkers are told they have strong math and logic skills. On the other hand, those described as right-brain thinkers are told that their talents are more creative. Here are a few traits of each.
Left Brain Traits
The left side of the brain is adept at certain tasks. Characteristics of the left brain include those related to:
- Language
- Logic
- Critical thinking
- Numbers
- Reasoning
What are “left-brained” people like? They are described as logical, analytical, and orderly. The theory suggests that people who are left-brain dominant do well in careers that involve linear thinking, math, and verbal information. This includes careers such as accountant, scientist, or computer programmer.
Right Brain Traits
According to the left-brain, right-brain dominance theory, the right side of the brain is best at expressive and creative tasks. There are several abilities popularly associated with the right side of the brain. Based on these, a right-brained thinker is good at:
- Recognizing faces
- Expressing emotions
- Creating music
- Reading emotions
- Appreciating color
- Using imagination
- Being intuitive
- Being creative
So what are so-called “right-brained people” like? They are often described as being more emotional, intuitive, and creative, making them suited for careers that involve creative expression and free-thinking, such as becoming an artist, psychologist, or writer.
History Behind the Theory
Like many popular psychology myths, this one grew out of observations of the human brain that were then dramatically distorted and exaggerated.
The idea that people are either “left-brained” or “right-brained” is rooted in a real neuroscientific concept known as brain lateralization. This refers to the tendency for certain functions to rely more heavily on one hemisphere of the brain than the other.
The left-brain-right-brain theory originated in the work of Roger W. Sperry, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1981. He studied brain functioning in patients who had their corpus callosum (the structure that connects the two hemispheres of the brain) surgically severed to treat refractory epilepsy.
However, these patients also experienced other symptoms after the communication pathway between the two sides of the brain was cut.
For example, many split-brain patients were unable to name objects processed by the right side of the brain but could name those processed by the left side of the brain. Based on this information, Sperry suggested that language was controlled by the left side of the brain.
Generally speaking, the left side of the brain tends to control many aspects of language and logic, while the right side tends to handle spatial information and visual comprehension.
Click Play to Learn About the Left Brain and the Right Brain
What Research Says About Brain Lateralization
Later research has shown that the brain is not nearly as dichotomous as once thought. For example, research has shown that abilities in subjects such as math are strongest when both halves of the brain work together.
Researchers have discovered important insights about how the two hemispheres function:
- Most tasks involve both hemispheres: Even activities that are associated with one side of the brain, like language or spatial reasoning, rely on networks that span both sides of the brain.
- The hemispheres communicate constantly: The left and right sides of the brain exchange information through the corpus callosum, which allows them to coordinate complex tasks.
- People don’t show a prominent brain type: In one study by researchers at the University of Utah, more than 1,000 participants had their brains analyzed to determine whether they preferred one side over the other.
The study revealed that while activity was sometimes higher in certain critical regions, both sides of the brain were essentially equal in their activity on average.
“It’s absolutely true that some brain functions occur in one or the other side of the brain. Language tends to be on the left, attention more on the right. But people don’t tend to have a stronger left- or right-sided brain network. It seems to be determined more connection by connection,” explained the study’s lead author, Dr. Jeff Anderson.
So while people are often described as being either right-brained or left-brained, the truth is that they are actually both.
Why the Myth Persists
While researchers have demonstrated that the left-brain/right-brain theory is a myth, its popularity persists. Why? Unfortunately, many people are likely unaware that the theory is outdated. In fact, the idea seems to have taken on a mind of its own within popular culture.
From magazine articles to books to online quizzes, you are bound to see information suggesting that you can unleash the power of your mind if you just discover which side of your brain is stronger or more dominant.
Today, students might continue to learn about the theory as a point of historical interest—to understand how our ideas about how the brain works have evolved and changed over time as researchers have learned more about how the brain operates.
While over-generalized and overstated by popular psychology and self-help texts, understanding your strengths and weaknesses in certain areas can help you develop better ways to learn and study.
For example, students who have difficulty following verbal instructions (often cited as a right-brain characteristic) might benefit from writing down directions and developing better organizational skills.
Clinical psychologist Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS, recommends that we take time to think about our unique strengths and traits and think about what areas we may want to work on or improve.
Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS
We can all benefit from improving our brain health, but first we have to identify what may be working for us, or not, and what areas we may want to exercise in order to make them stronger.
— Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS
“The great news is that we can improve our brain health, build on our strengths, and create new ways of thinking and doing—it just takes identifying it and then practicing it,” she says.
The important thing to remember if you take one of the many left-brain/right-brain quizzes you will likely encounter online is that they are entirely for fun, and you shouldn’t place much stock in your results.
How to Support Your Brain Health
Whether you feel like you tend to be more of a creative type or an analytical type, there are things that you can do to keep your mind sharp and your brain healthy.
- Get regular exercise: Research has found that exercise has a protective effect on cognition and brain health as people age.
- Keep your mind active: Studies have found that people who are mentally active and work in mentally demanding fields, such as academia, tend to have better brain health.
- Socialize: Social support is important for psychological well-being, but it is also essential for the health of your brain, particularly as you age.
- Eat a healthy diet: The foods you eat can also impact your brain’s health and function. Focus on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbs.
- Get enough rest: Sleep is essential to brain health and mental function, so focus on getting enough rest each night. Practice healthy sleep habits and stick to a regular sleep-wake schedule.
No matter what type of thinking you are doing, both sides of your brain are involved. The right-brain, left-brain theory might be inaccurate, but that doesn’t mean that understanding your strengths is not helpful. You can also take steps to protect your brain’s health by getting regular exercise, sleeping well, staying social, and putting your mind to use.